I suppose this could have gone under stem work or repairs but it is so Mesquite.
Was wandering through the hardware store and saw 2 bags of Mesquite chunks for 3.50 ea. and remembering a post on this forum grabbed them both. Got home and grabbed the pipe suitable chunks. I had just gotten a lathe so I used one to make a dowel.
I sanded down a block and squared it and noted that Mesquite has a nice grain and is hard as .. well it is hard believe me. Problem was no shank, and epoxy was obviously out. Don’t know how this idea came to me, but once it set in there was no stopping it. I guess I just had to use that dowel for something. On problem was getting the shank to screw in all the way and butt up tight on the bottom of the tapped mortise. A needle file on the threads where it was tight (you could see where the two pieces of wood were meeting from the wear) solved the problem and it butts in tight.
Hind sight: the mortise could have been about a ¼ inch rather than ¾ of an inch, the tap could have been grinded down and much of the starter threading removed making useable threads all the way to the bottom (note the cut in half mortise). Mostly because the chamber is going to be very close to the bottom of the mortise.
Anyway, I have lots of briar pipes so this will be a new experience and I’ve heard not a bad one either, at that.
I'll post how it turnes out.
